7 Fat Burning AMRAP Workouts to Build Strength & Conditioning

The acronym AMRAP sounds weird at first, but it’s a simple concept and adds a new dimension to your usual training routine. Besides “as many reps as possible”, it can also mean “as many rounds as possible”.

An AMRAP workout works like this: You have a certain number of reps of each exercises to complete in every set before moving onto the next. Once you have completed all the sets you go back to the start and begin again. That counts as one round.

The aim is to perform either as many reps and rounds in the given time. Between the rounds you can take little breaks but they shouldn’t be too long, since time is limited. The aim is intensity. AMRAPS are scored by the number of reps and / or rounds you completed in the time frame.

AMRAP workouts are for everyone.

PERFECT FOR ATHLETES OF ALL LEVELS

No matter if you are a total beginner or an elite athlete, this format will be challenging. If you need to do band-assisted Pull Ups, or Press Ups on your knees instead, then do that. AMRAPS can be easily scaled to suit all abilities, the right attitude to give it all you have is the most important thing!

Most AMRAPS tend to be between 5 – 30 minutes long, but there are many exceptions.

This kind of workout is very intense and time efficient. It’s individually challenging due to the possibility to create a personal plan for every skill level. You can integrate all kind of exercises and it presents a perfect mixture of strength and endurance training.

AMRAPS ARE A GREAT WAY TO:

Burn fat

Test your mental toughness

Improve your technique under pressure and fatigue

Build strength and conditioning

Increase your capacity for working well at a high heart rate

Testing your physical limits

Due to the high intensity, these workouts are exhausting. They are tough, but that makes them rewarding and useful. If you are new to the AMRAP style of workouts, take the time to think about the following tips.

TECHNIQUE TIPS: PACING

Think about your pacing. For longer AMRAPS, this is especially important. Be smart about how long the workout is, should your pace be the same for a 3 minute AMRAP and a 30 minute one? No, probably not. Work slightly harder than you think you can, and you will be surprised at what you are able to achieve.

intensity is the key.

BREAKING UP SETS

If you know you have 10 rounds of 30 Wall Balls, but these aren’t a strength of yours, then try breaking the sets down into smaller chunks of 10 or less. This will also help you psychologically to get through the workout at a good pace.

CONTROL YOUR BREATHING

This is exceptionally important! Concentrate on your breathing and make an effort to control and regulate your breaths. This will ensure that you don’t burn out in the first 2 minutes, and create a rhythm that you can use for the rest of the AMRAP workout. Rich Froning is an excellent example of an athlete that does this well. For more tips on this, check out the article on his breathing techniques.

Pick one of the following 10 Workouts and give it a try. If you spot one you’ve tried before, then re-test yourself to see if your scores have improved.

7. BODYWEIGHT AMRAP

A deceptively simple workout to begin with. These are all bodyweight exercises, so you can try this one anywhere.

10 minutes

10 Push-ups

15 Air-squats

20 Crunches

6. CINDY

Sara Sigmundsdottir perfecting her Pull Ups

One of the infamous “Crossfit Girls” workouts, Cindy is a great test of strength endurance and mental fortitude.

20 minutes

5 Pull-ups

10 Push-ups

15 Air Squats

5. HERO WOD “DANNY”

Ron Ortiz goes hard!

Hero Workout “Danny” is a great benchmark to use to test yourself. If you’ve never tried it before, give it a go and mark your score (the total number of reps) then try it again in 6 months and see if you have improved.

20 minutes

30 Box jumps

20 Push Press 35 / 52.5 kg

30 Pull-ups

4. TEN MINUTE AMRAP

Wall Balls: The exercise everyone loves to hate

One to try if you want to test and develop strong lower body strength.

10 minutes

25 Mountain Climber

5 Squat Cleans (40 / 60 kg)

10 Wall Balls

3. SIMPLE AND DEADLY

Definition of Burpees

This one is great for helping to increase your endurance.

15 minutes

10 Burpees

25 High Knees

2. AN AMRAP FROM RICH FRONING

Tips from Froning

Rich Froning includes this AMRAP in his training:

7 minutes

9 Front-squats (50 / 80 kg)

7 Burpees

5 Shoulder to Overhead

1. CROSSFIT OPEN AMRAP WORKOUT 15.1

Toes to Bar will destroy your core

Try this Open workout from last year.

9 minute AMRAP

15 toes-to-bar

10 Deadlift 52.5 / 34 kg

5 Snatches 52.5 / 34 kg

When you perform these workouts, go as quickly as you can, but don’t forget safety and proper form! Never sacrifice form for the sake of a quicker time.

AMRAP’s are great to track your improvements over time, just write down how many repetitions or rounds you completed and watch your progression (hopefully) when you re-test workouts. You can combine any exercises you want and experiment to find the perfect AMRAPs for you. They are intense workouts which can train your whole body if you put together the right exercises, and are a pillar of the Crossfit training methodology.